The State Restructuring Commission (SRC) could not come up with a consensus report. In the absence of agreement on disputed issues, the members divided into majority and minority groups. The Coordinator Madan Pariyar, Stella Tamang, Malla K Sundar, Bhogendra Jha, Krishna Hachhethu, and Surendra Mahato were in one camp and Ramesh Dhungel, Sabitri Gurung, and Sarbaraj Khadka were in the other camp. The majority report submitted to prime minister Baburam Bhattarai included the dissentions by the minority group, but minority group submitted a separate report to the prime minister.

The majority report has proposed 11 states, namely, Limbuwan, Kirant, Tamsaling, Newa:, Narayani, Tamuwan, Magarat, non-geographic state for Dalits, Karnali-Khaptad, Madhes-Mithila-Bhojpura, and Madhesi-Awadh-Tharuwan. The minority report has proposed six states with the names to be decided by the parliament.

The differences between the majority and minority of the Commission included the preamble, local bodies, preferential political rights, right to self-determination, name and demarcation of the states, and others. The minority group stated that it submitted a separate report after there was no consensus on the fundamental issues on state restructuring. The majority group stated that there was no consensus because the minority group members could not rise above their political interests, and included their report as a note of dissent.

Congress and UML had stated before submission of the report that they would not accept if there were two reports of majority and minority. After the report was submitted, UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the report of the Commission had added further complication instead of solving the problem. The meeting of the UCPN (M) officials also concluded that the report was incomplete. The meeting concluded that the though the majority was sound in principle, there were some weaknesses, and decided not to accept the minority report. As there were discussions on the Commission reports, Congress senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said that if there was no consensus on state restructuring, there should be referendum on the issue.

The government submitted the report of the Commission to the Constituent Assembly (CA). Prime minister Baburam Bhattarai stated that since the CA decides makes the ultimate decision on state restructuring, the two separate reports should not be taken otherwise. On the other hand, CA chairperson Subash Nemwang stated that there was confusion about introducing the reports in the CA since the CA Regulations is not clear on it. He said that in the absence of clear Regulations, it could not be introduced for discussion since the Committee on State Restructuring and Distribution of State Power also had submitted its report. The CARegulations could not be amended even after Regulations amendment draft committee has formed as there was no consensus among the parties.

In the meantime, the leaders agreed to give additional 14 days to the Constitutional Committee to reach consensus on disputed issues. Then, the CA meeting took place which amended the calendar of events for constitution-drafting. The CA registered another application at the Supreme Court against its earlier decision to reject its application to review the Court’s decision on the CA deadline.

There was an all-party meeting of the parties in the CA. UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal made proposals for the peace process, constitution-drafting, and a national consensus government. Congress and UML reiterated that the government should withdraw the decision of the Council of Ministers to legalise the land transactions conducted by the people’s government during the conflict.

There was some progress in army integration. The process of discharging those opting of voluntary retirement began. Teams of the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC) distributed cheques for half the amount due and disbursed travel allowances in the seven cantonments. Congress and UML kept stalled the proceedings of the CA demanding the withdrawal of the decision of the Council of Ministers to legalise the land transactions carried out by the people’s government during the conflict.

Major Developments